Ballmer says Microsoft at work to rival iPad — REDMOND, Wash.—Acknowledging Apple's early success with the iPad, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer insisted Thursday that the software maker is hard at work on Windows-based tablets. — “They'll be shipping as soon as they are ready,” Ballmer said …

Steve Ballmer on the iPad: The transcript — “We'll talk about about slates and tablets and blah, blah, blah, blah.” Ballmer at the financial analysts meeting. No, those aren't the notes of a reporter who couldn't keep up. That “blah, blah, blah, blah” — taken from the official transcript …

Rain or Snow, Now You Can See Weather in Google Earth — It's the middle of summer, but for those of us who long for the return of cold winter weather and warm cups of cocoa, throw on your favorite poncho and check out the weather in Google Earth 5.2. The latest version projects images …

Sources: Spotify Reboots U.S. Label Negotiations — Spotify's licensing negotiations with the major music labels have reverted back to square one, Billboard.biz has learned from multiple sources. — Having failed to persuade the major record labels to go along with its vision for a U.S. version …

Barnes & Noble Planning Big Push to Increase Nook Sales — BARNES & NOBLE customers are about to see a lot more of the Nook. — In September, the chain will begin an aggressive promotion of its Nook e-readers by building 1,000-square-foot boutiques in all of its stores, with sample Nooks …

Google: The search party is over — Yes, the company is still growing at rates that would be the envy of the rest of the Fortune 500. But its core business is slowing, its stock is down, its Android mobile platform generates scant revenue, and competition (hello, Facebook) is fierce.

Apple starts patenting mobile app ideas — By now most of must us have heard about the problems U.S. patent system is facing. With software and business model patents, patent trolls and lawsuits, and patented things like one-click buying online. — Well, if Apple has it's way, things are about to get much worse.

EVO 4G's Android 2.2 update starts trickling out tomorrow, loads of new features and fixes in store? (update: official for August 3rd!) — We're not certain that this date is going to hold — things like this have an uncanny tendency to slip at the last possible moment …

Intel Wins Ruling in Antitrust Class-Action Case — Intel Corp. won a key ruling in a suit against the company on behalf of computer buyers, which found no evidence that consumers have been hurt by the company's discounting practices in the market for computer chips.

Software Firms Overwhelmingly Against Patents — There's been plenty of talk about whether or not software patents should be legal, and one of the “debates” we often run into in the comments is over whether or not the “software industry” really believes in patents or not.

Best Buy to offer Clearwire 4G service — Best Buy is beefing up its recently launched wireless broadband service in a deal with 4G provider Clearwire. — Through its Best Buy Connect service, which debuted just a few weeks ago, the electronics retailer plans to offer customers a new 4G tier starting in 2011.